doorstop

Name: doorstop, English Word Data
Creator: Wiktionary
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

noun

By PlainSpell Editorial Team · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) · analyzed May 6, 2026

The verdict

“doorstop” is an uncommon English word, ranked #78,541 in English word frequency and used as a noun.

#78,541
frequency rank, English: 8
letters

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - Any device or object used to halt the motion of a door, as a large or heavy object, a wedge, or some piece of hardware fixed to the floor, door or wall.

Key facts for doorstop
Property	Value
Headword	doorstop
Language	English
Part of speech	Noun
Letters	8
Frequency rank	#78,541
Misspellings tracked	0
Confusable pairs	0
Source	Wiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “doorstop” sits in English frequency

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right). doorstop lands here:

#78,541

#1#100#1K#10K#100K

← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The English entry for doorstop is 8 letters long, classified as a noun. Corpus data places it at rank #78,541 in overall English word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. Wiktionary records 4 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

No misspelling variants are generated for doorstop in our index, since its letter pattern doesn't lend itself to common typo substitutions. This headword has no recorded confusable partner, which usually means its spelling is distinct enough that readers don't reach for a similar-looking word instead.

Etymologically, the entry records: From door + stop. The correct English form is doorstop, spelled D-O-O-R-S-T-O-P.

Definition

1
Any device or object used to halt the motion of a door, as a large or heavy object, a wedge, or some piece of hardware fixed to the floor, door or wall.
2
A large book, which by implication could be used to stop a door.
3
Eggcorn of doorstep.
4
An interview with a politician or other public figure (apparently informal or spontaneous but often planned), as they enter or leave a building.

Etymology

From door + stop.

This word in other languages

cuña(Español)cale-porte(Français)

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "doorstop"?

"doorstop" is spelled D-O-O-R-S-T-O-P.

What does "doorstop" mean?

As a noun, "doorstop" means: Any device or object used to halt the motion of a door, as a large or heavy object, a wedge, or some piece of hardware fixed to the floor, door or wall.

What is the origin of the word "doorstop"?

From door + stop. See the full etymology section above for more details.

Is PlainSpell free to use?

Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “doorstop”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

The one correct English spelling is D-O-O-R-S-T-O-P - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words

Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.